Police searching for man who attacked woman downtown

Sheriff's detectives charge two others with sex crimes against girls

Published: Sunday, June 21, 2009 at 6:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, June 20, 2009 at 10:30 p.m.

While officers continue searching for a man who attacked a woman early Saturday morning, sheriff's detectives arrested two men accused of inappropriately touching two young girls in separate incidents on Friday.

A 37-year-old woman told police she left the Broadway Café at 306 Broadway St. early Saturday when a man pulled her behind the business and tried to rape her.

The victim told police she fought with her attacker, and the assailant eventually ran away.

Police were notified about the incident shortly after 3:15 a.m. They searched the area, but were unable to locate a suspect.

Meantime, on Friday, sheriff's detectives arrested two men for lewd and lascivious molestation and lewd and lascivious battery, respectively, on victims ages 11 and 12.

Both men, David J. Gagnon, 50, and Robert Lynn Mitchell, 29, are from Summerfield.

The 12-year-old reporting the incident in Gagnon's case told deputies she and her family were visiting Gagnon at his home, when the juvenile fell asleep. Gagnon and his wife told the juvenile's mother and the mother's boyfriend that the girl could spend the night at their home, deputies said.

The next morning, the victim was picked up by her mother's boyfriend, and while driving home, she told the man that Gagnon had molested her, according to deputies.

The victim told deputies that, while they were at Gagnon's home, she was in the pool with him when he touched her private area.

Asleep in the guest bedroom, the girl said Gagnon tickled her, and when she woke up, she said Gagnon asked if she slept naked, according to deputies. Told no, Gagnon reportedly bet the girl $5 that she was "too chicken to sleep naked," the report noted. Thinking he was playing around, the girl told deputies she told him she would bet him $30.

When Gagnon left the room, the girl said she removed her clothes, expect her underwear, to prove she was "not chicken," according to the report.

Gagnon re-entered the room, removed the girl's panties, and began rubbing her private area, the girl told deputies.

The girl said she told him to stop, but he placed a blanket on top of her. Gagnon stopped when his wife entered the bedroom, the girl said.

The victim said she tried calling her mother's cell phone, but got no answer.

After being interviewed at the Sheriff's Office, Gagnon was taken into custody. The Department of Children and Families was advised about the incident.

In another case, the mother of an 11-year-old girl told deputies she left her home for about 10 minutes, and when she returned, her daughter told her that Mitchell had touched her.

The girl told officials she was sitting by the computer when Mitchell sat beside her and began rubbing her leg. The victim said she left and sat on the couch, but Mitchell followed her and tickled her. He reportedly touched the girl's bottom and made suggestive remarks, according to the report.

The victim told deputies she locked herself in the bathroom until her mother arrived.

The girl claimed Mitchell tried to on pull her shorts from behind a few weeks ago.

Mitchell was later found by deputies and, after being questioned, taken to the jail.

Anyone with any information about the attempted sexual assault incident can call the Ocala Police Department at 369-7000, Crime Line at 369-7061, Crime Stoppers at 368-STOP, or go online to www.ocalacrimestoppers.com.

<p>While officers continue searching for a man who attacked a woman early Saturday morning, sheriff's detectives arrested two men accused of inappropriately touching two young girls in separate incidents on Friday.</p><p>A 37-year-old woman told police she left the Broadway Café at 306 Broadway St. early Saturday when a man pulled her behind the business and tried to rape her.</p><p>The victim told police she fought with her attacker, and the assailant eventually ran away.</p><p>Police were notified about the incident shortly after 3:15 a.m. They searched the area, but were unable to locate a suspect.</p><p>Meantime, on Friday, sheriff's detectives arrested two men for lewd and lascivious molestation and lewd and lascivious battery, respectively, on victims ages 11 and 12.</p><p>Both men, David J. Gagnon, 50, and Robert Lynn Mitchell, 29, are from Summerfield.</p><p>The 12-year-old reporting the incident in Gagnon's case told deputies she and her family were visiting Gagnon at his home, when the juvenile fell asleep. Gagnon and his wife told the juvenile's mother and the mother's boyfriend that the girl could spend the night at their home, deputies said.</p><p>The next morning, the victim was picked up by her mother's boyfriend, and while driving home, she told the man that Gagnon had molested her, according to deputies.</p><p>The victim told deputies that, while they were at Gagnon's home, she was in the pool with him when he touched her private area.</p><p>Asleep in the guest bedroom, the girl said Gagnon tickled her, and when she woke up, she said Gagnon asked if she slept naked, according to deputies. Told no, Gagnon reportedly bet the girl $5 that she was "too chicken to sleep naked," the report noted. Thinking he was playing around, the girl told deputies she told him she would bet him $30.</p><p>When Gagnon left the room, the girl said she removed her clothes, expect her underwear, to prove she was "not chicken," according to the report.</p><p>Gagnon re-entered the room, removed the girl's panties, and began rubbing her private area, the girl told deputies.</p><p>The girl said she told him to stop, but he placed a blanket on top of her. Gagnon stopped when his wife entered the bedroom, the girl said.</p><p>The victim said she tried calling her mother's cell phone, but got no answer.</p><p>After being interviewed at the Sheriff's Office, Gagnon was taken into custody. The Department of Children and Families was advised about the incident.</p><p>In another case, the mother of an 11-year-old girl told deputies she left her home for about 10 minutes, and when she returned, her daughter told her that Mitchell had touched her.</p><p>The girl told officials she was sitting by the computer when Mitchell sat beside her and began rubbing her leg. The victim said she left and sat on the couch, but Mitchell followed her and tickled her. He reportedly touched the girl's bottom and made suggestive remarks, according to the report.</p><p>The victim told deputies she locked herself in the bathroom until her mother arrived. </p><p>The girl claimed Mitchell tried to on pull her shorts from behind a few weeks ago.</p><p>Mitchell was later found by deputies and, after being questioned, taken to the jail.</p><p>Anyone with any information about the attempted sexual assault incident can call the Ocala Police Department at 369-7000, Crime Line at 369-7061, Crime Stoppers at 368-STOP, or go online to www.ocalacrimestoppers.com.</p>